The market borgo at the head of Lake Maggiore, the outlet of the Maggia, Verzasca and Ticino valleys.
Frederick I gave it a new market right in 1164 and immediacy to the Empire in 1186. Its castle, begun in the twelfth century, is probably the Orelli's residence. Shortly after 1200 its burghers will found a corporation to balance the nobles.
Who holds it
- Name
- Not pinned (see Capitanei of Locarno)
- Title
- The capitanei of Locarno, under the Empire
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
The capitanei of Locarno (the Orelli, the Muralto and their kin), immediate to the Empire since 1186.
How things stand that morning
Immediate to the Empire under its capitanei.
Charter
Market right (1164); imperial immediacy (1186).
Council
The capitanei; the burghers' corporation is a little later (shortly after 1200).
Fairs and markets
The market of 1164 (days not pinned).
Walls and castle
The lake castle (twelfth century).
Trade and crafts
Lake trade and the valleys' produce; the road and lake route toward the Ticino valleys and the passes.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Grants of 1164 and 1186 sourced.
Primary sources for Empire
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Marbach (compiled to 1238, the section on 1198 to 1210 written in the early 13th century). Alsatian annals on the Staufen side of the Upper Rhine. Read online
- Annals of Reiner of Saint James, Liège, Reiner of Liège (1197 to 1230, kept year by year). Contemporary annals kept inside Liège. Read online
- Chronicle of Burchard of Ursberg, Burchard of Ursberg (about 1229 to 1230, reworked by Conrad of Lichtenau). Written a generation later by a fierce partisan of the Staufen and a critic of Innocent III. Read online
- Chronicle of Otto of St Blasien, Otto of St Blasien (about 1209 to 1210). A Swabian continuation of Otto of Freising written from the Staufen side. Read online
- Chronicle of Reinhardsbrunn; Chronicle of St Peter's, Erfurt (Erfurt chronicle in the 13th century; Reinhardsbrunn compilation about 1340 to 1349 from older annals). The two Thuringian chronicles. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- Royal Chronicle of Cologne (in stages from about 1175 to about 1250; the section on 1198 to 1220 written soon after the events). The fullest German narrative of the throne war from the Welf and Cologne side. Read online
- Chronicle of Hainaut, Gislebert of Mons (about 1195 to 1196). Ends in 1195, so it has no 1200 entries, but it is the indispensable background for Flanders and Hainaut: the career of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut (VIII of Flanders), his union of the two counties, the settlement with Philip over Artois, the rights, castles, fiefs and vassals of Hainaut listed by a man who ran its chancery, and the youth of Baldwin IX, who held both counties in 1200. Read online
8 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.